Legal and policy officer jobs

The post holder will be part of Rights of Women’s Family Law team and will play a key role in delivering the organisation’s core services to women affected by domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The post holder will provide specialist legal advice through Rights of Women’s telephone advice lines, contribute to the delivery of training, and support the development of accessible legal information through publications and other resources. They will also support survivor engagement and contribute to Rights of Women’s policy work, helping to drive systemic change for women’s rights.

The role will also involve contributing to Rights of Women’s Family Justice and Domestic Abuse Partnership work, which brings together local professionals to strengthen the family justice system for survivors of domestic abuse. This will involve occasional travel to local areas.

The Legal Officer will play a leading role in maintaining and developing Rights of Women’s online peer-to-peer forum, which builds the capacity of professionals supporting women survivors. This includes supporting the online community, producing legally accurate and relevant public-facing content in response to queries and emerging themes, and contributing to a regular online newsletter.

Alongside other Legal Officers, the post holder may share responsibility for supporting, training and developing Rights of Women’s team of over 50 remote legal advice volunteers.

Applicants must be a qualified solicitor, barrister or CILEX member able to practise in England and Wales with entitlement to a full practising certificate.

* This post is open to women only. Occupational Requirement (Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9 Part I) applies.

The Big House is looking for an energised Finance and Operations Director to lead the charity's finance, HR, operations and legal functions. This role is suited to a strategic thinker who is happy to get stuck in with hands-on tasks. The role covers five key areas.

Financial adminstration: Magage end-to-end financial processes including invoicing, bank reconcilations, budget management

Strategic business and financial planning: Work with the CEO to design and deliver an organisational strategy backed up by robust financial planning

Fundraising: Support the fundraising team to track pipeline value and secured income against targets and provide accurate reports to funders

HR and business operations: Oversee the HR function of the charity, foster a positive work environment and design and deliver effective hiring, onboarding and performance review processes

Production managment: Oversee the management of The Big House theatre and film productions, carefully managing external delivery teams and ensuring projects run to agreen timelines and to budget

This is an exciting opportunity to steer Asylum Aid at an important time in its 30-year existence. As Executive Director you will be responsible for delivering on our strategy for impact. You will oversee our work to increase access to expert, trauma-informed legal representation to those in the asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems and lead our policy and strategic legal work to achieve systemic change that contributes towards our vision.

You will line manage the Director of Legal Casework to oversee the provision of supportive and enabling leadership to Asylum Aid caseworkers so that they can continue to deliver high quality expert advice in complex cases, while being supported in their professional development and wellbeing. You will also manage and develop the work of our welfare advice team within the Westminster Advice Services Partnership and beyond, and work collaboratively with colleagues in the sector to build capacity and increase our impact. 

The ideal candidate, who may be legally qualified, will have experience of leadership in the charity/NGO sector and a sound understanding of the asylum, human rights and trafficking processes in the UK and the legal frameworks which govern the protection of refugees, survivors of trafficking and stateless people, and of the role of law in achieving system change.

We are looking for someone who is strategically minded and passionate about providing supportive and inclusive leadership to our expert team. You will be committed to our objectives and to the role which expert legal representation plays in enabling people in need of protection in the UK to obtain it.

As is the nature of this sector, the role may be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material and, whilst they will be supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and surrounding team, the candidate should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of good self-care principles in an intense work environment and dissemination of those principles to junior members of the team.

How to apply 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 10am on Monday 26th January 2026.

The website form will ask you to:

1.Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.

2.Upload your current CV

3.Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional, and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.

For an informal conversation about the post before applying, please contact Alison Pickup, the current Executive Director.

Selection Process

We will invite candidates to an initial online interview on Tuesday 10th or Wednesday 11th February, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interviews at our office in Old Street on Tuesday 24th or Wednesday 25th February.

We offer a guaranteed initial interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they provide some evidence of relevant experience or skills in relation to the essential criteria.

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.

Eligibility

Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.

Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our approach to our clients, our volunteers and our staff, and we are an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer.

We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates because we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in.

We genuinely welcome and encourage applications from candidates from a range of backgrounds, especially people of colour, people with disabilities, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration or trauma and of the housing and welfare system, who are under-represented in our organisation.

We recognise and value the role of lived experience in meeting the needs of our clients and acknowledge the under-representation of people with lived experience of forced migration and statelessness in the advice sector. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK.

We are also proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector.

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network and access other information and resources which may help in preparing your job application.

Please complete the form on their website to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.

We are looking for an exceptional, value-driven candidate who can hit the ground running as our Legal Education Officer, working closely with the Director and the rest of our small and dynamic Right to Remain team.

The person must be someone who understands the Right to Remain ethos and is prepared to bring their whole self to our organisation. Needless to say, the role requires an impeccable grasp of the asylum and immigration system and its operation on the ground, including how it impacts our community of people seeking asylum, refugees, migrants, their families, friends and allies. It requires an ability to help and guide our community to navigate the complex and hostile asylum and immigration system.

You will be working closely with the Director and the rest of our small and dynamic Right to Remain staff team: another Legal Education Officer based in Leeds (generally) covering the North, the Organiser based in Manchester leading our mighty These Walls Must Fall, and the Engagement Officer based in London. In particular, the post holder will be closely coordinating their work with another Legal Education Officer in Leeds. The post holder is also expected to be already embedded in the local and regional asylum and migration field, familiar with its dynamics and able to tap into their existing relationships and connections with local groups and actors. 

We are proud of Right to Remain’s unique and bold approach that really believes in collective power. We are focused on building knowledge, radical solidarity and the power of our community. We show up authentically at work and for our community, always giving our 100%. We are determined and calm amidst the crisis and chaos of the world. We know that now is not a ‘business as usual’ time, and we need to meet the moment as the anchor organisation for the migration justice movement. That comes with a lot of responsibility but we also carry it with lightness. We want our new team members to be similarly passionate, ambitious and compassionate. 

With the rest of the team, you will be responsible for maintaining, developing, and increasing usage of our highly popular and accessible resources about the asylum and immigration system, most notably the Right to Remain Toolkit. You will deliver interactive workshops on the legal system for people navigating that system as well as professionals and volunteers. You will engage with our network of community groups to ensure that we are apprised of developments on the ground and we are communicating important changes to these support groups. You will also work with the Director and other colleagues to develop and deliver specific public legal education projects, when necessary. You must have outstanding communication skills and the ability to engage with a wide range of audiences, in a manner that reflects Right to Remain’s mission and values. 

Permanent, full-time (37.5 hours per week)

Remote working with some UK and international travel

We are looking for an ambitious, experienced and passionate Chief Financial & Operations Officer (CFOO) to join The Lifescape Project, leading the evolution, management and delivery of our financial and operational capacities as the organisation grows.

Our impact as a charity depends on excellent financial management and the efficient provision of supporting operational structures, policies and ways of working. As the organisation grows and diversifies, we need a dedicated Chief Financial and Operations Officer to lead the management and development of these critical functions in close liaison with the CEO. The CFOO will be second in command to the CEO and a key member of the Management Team.

About us and the role

We are a small and quickly growing UK-registered charity whose mission is to protect and restore wild, natural landscapes. We use the skills and expertise of our multi-disciplinary team (spanning science, law, economics, technology and culture) to develop projects that pursue this mission.

We use the approach of combining disciplines to design and deliver our work because the biodiversity crisis is driven and impacted by social, economic, legal and other complex factors. It is increasingly recognised that the urgent transformative change needed for a sustainable future on our planet is most effectively achieved through this approach. The Lifescape Project has a unique ability to apply these diverse areas of expertise to our mission whilst maintaining the agility of a smaller organisation in delivering our work.

Working in pursuit of our 2020-2026 strategy, the Lifescape Project has seen rapid growth in its impact, team and revenue since commencing work in 2020. Our annual revenue has increased from £265,000 in FY 2020/2021 to £1.2m in FY 2024/2025, with further growth expected in the current FY. Our team has grown from just one to a team which will number 20 at the time of the successful CFOO candidate joining. This growth to date and planned future growth requires constant evolution of our financial and operational infrastructure and an experienced hand to guide this process, which is the core purpose of the CFOO role we are seeking to appoint.

We are excited to be hiring for this role, which will be transformational for the organisation, allowing us to develop our approach to financial and operational matters and support the continued growth of our team and impact. The role will act as second in command and will deputise for the CEO when absent. We are therefore looking for a highly capable and experienced finance and operations leader with the vision to ensure that we continue to grow in a sustainable, effective and efficient way.

We currently have a full-time manager and officer in our Finance and Operations team (F&O Team), which the CFOO will be joining to oversee, develop and guide all relevant functions. With the small size of the team at this time, the CFOO will be expected to jump into the detail in some areas. In the short term this will include delivering some of the more complex areas of the F&O team’s work, such as the audit process, multi-year financial planning and legal compliance, with support from other team members and external advisers as appropriate. If we continue to succeed in delivering our growth strategy, the role will progress over the medium term with increasing team size/supervisory duties and reducing involvement in immediate implementation. Remuneration would also increase in line with growth and assuming strong performance in the role.

For further information, please download the job pack below. Candidates must review the entire job pack before applying.

To apply, please email a cover letter and CV (each a maximum of 2 pages).

Closing date: 9.00pm on 29th January 2026, however we will be reviewing applications as they come in and reserve our discretion to extend the deadline if necessary.

First interview: First round interviews are expected to take place virtually on Microsoft Teams between 3rd-6th February.

Second interview: Second round interviews are expected to take place between 23rd-27th February.

Assessed task: There will be an assessed task which candidates will be asked to complete, either before the first round or second round interview.

Start date: The role will commence as soon as possible from 1st April 2026, subject to the successful candidate’s availability.

The Role

To provide health and safety monitoring support to the housing team. This will include maintaining and updating local and central health and safety records and carrying out local health and safety inspections and checks using CIHA’s standard recording processes. Ensure tenants understand their health and safety obligations and support housing officers to take enforcement action as necessary.

Our Organisation

Causeway is a London living wage employer, with a competitive pension scheme. We also offer an employee assistance programme that provides free financial, legal, and mental health advice and support to our employees. We provide core training, and continuous learning and development throughout your career with us. 

About The Public Interest Law Centre

The Public Interest Law Centre exists to challenge unlawful state practice and systemic injustice through legal representation, strategic litigation, research and legal education. We specialise in public law, actions against public authorities and public inquiries, bringing cases to court for individuals and grassroots groups who have been treated unfairly.

We hold government and public bodies to account, challenge unlawful policies and practices, and promote access to justice for marginalised individuals and communities. We will not rest until we achieve a fairer and more equitable society.

About the Role

As Fundraising Manager, you will work closely with the Director to execute and implement PILC’s fundraising strategy, with a specific focus on trusts and foundations. You’ll be an experienced fundraiser with demonstrable experience in securing significant income from trusts and foundations. 

Position: Fundraising Manager 

Responsible to: Director

Location: Cambridge Health, London (E2) / Hybrid working - two days per week in the office

Hours: 35 hours per week (full-time), core hours of 10am–4pm

Salary: £40,013 per annum (pending RPI-linked cost-of-living uplift)

Main Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a strong, strategic pipeline of trust and foundation prospects aligned with organisational priorities and funding needs.
• Grow PILC’s individual donor and supporter base.
• Work closely with the Director and project teams to translate power-building and legal work into clear, compelling funding propositions.
• Manage the full grants cycle, ensuring excellent stewardship and compliance with funder requirements.
• Cultivate new relationships with trusts and foundations and steward relationships with existing funders.
• Secure significant income from trusts and foundations, including multi-year and six-figure grants.
• Ensure all fundraising activity complies with PILC’s Ethical Fundraising Policy and relevant regulations.

Annual leave and benefits

• We offer 25 days of holiday per year, a 7% employer pension contribution, plus additional time off over Christmas when our office closes
• Option to join our Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme
• Flexible working around our core hours of 10am – 4pm
• Laptop and mobile phone
• Support and supervision
• Learning and development budget
• Access to our 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced support when you need it most, including enhanced maternity pay and sick pay

Please review the recruitment pack before applying which contains:

• Background information about PILC
• Information about the selection process
• A detailed role description and person specification
• Application form
• Equality & Diversity monitoring form

How to apply: Please submit your completed application form and equality and diversity monitoring form to the email address in the recruitment pack by the closing date: Friday 30 January 2026 at 12pm. 

Interviews will commence the week beginning 9 February 2026.

Please note, we do not accept CVs. 

About Mesothelioma UK

Mesothelioma UK is a national charity dedicated to supporting anyone affected by mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer caused primarily by asbestos exposure. Our mission is to help people live better and longer, champion equitable access to improved treatments, advance research, and amplify the voices of those living with mesothelioma. We are proud to provide specialist nursing, information, research, and advocacy services across the UK.

The Opportunity

As our founder and current CEO steps down, we are seeking a visionary and values-driven Chief Executive to lead Mesothelioma UK into its next chapter. This is a pivotal moment for the charity, offering the chance to build on our strong foundations and drive forward our ambitious strategy to improve outcomes for all those affected by mesothelioma.

About the Role

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive will:

• Inspire and lead a high-performing team, including our unique NHS-based nursing network.
• Develop and deliver organisational strategy and operational plans.
• Ensure robust financial management and income generation.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders including the NHS, donors, partners, and research teams.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity, raising our national and international profile.
• Uphold our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

About You

We are looking for an exceptional leader who brings:

• Proven experience at CEO, Director, or equivalent senior level in a non-profit or health sector environment.
• A track record in leadership, strategic planning, financial management, governance and fundraising.
• Strong people management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Passion for our mission and values, with high ethical standards and integrity.
• The ability to inspire, motivate, and unite staff, volunteers, and partners.

What We Offer

• Salary circa £75,000 (negotiable, dependent on experience)
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Health Cash Plan & Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible working arrangements
• The chance to make a profound difference to people’s lives

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and values-led Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead East London Waterworks Park in this next phase of our development. This is a rare opportunity to shape the first paid executive leadership role in a pioneering environmental charity.

The CEO role is wide-ranging and dynamic, and will evolve as East London Waterworks Park grows. The CEO will provide strategic leadership to help realise our ambition to purchase the Thames Water depot site in East London, while strengthening our capacity to deliver community-led rewilding and nature-recovery projects across London in partnership with landowners, local authorities and other stakeholders.

An important aspect of the role will involve introducing a sustainable staffing model that complements and develops East London Waterworks Park’s existing volunteer ecosystem, and strengthens our culture, vision and values. The CEO will be supported in this work by long-standing volunteers at both trustee board and operational level, who believe in the benefits this organisational change will bring.

About East London Waterworks Park

East London Waterworks Park is a community-led charity working to reconnect people and nature. Starting from nature-first principles, and with inclusivity at the heart of everything we do, we work with communities to co-design spaces to unlock a chain of positive changes that culminate in the long-term transformation of people and place.

Our work includes:

• co-designing East London Waterworks Park with the East London community, working towards purchasing a 14-acre Thames Water depot in Waltham Forest and transforming it into a biodiverse urban park with free, accessible wild swimming and welcoming community spaces

• co-designing other nature-first spaces on disused or brownfield land in London, returning land to nature in collaboration with local communities to encourage long–term community stewardship

• hosting engagement, education, and empowerment activities that build skills, confidence and deeper connections to nature.

East London Waterworks Park is a sociocratic organisation, with a decentralised organisational structure and a transparent and collaborative approach to decision making. We have grown organically since 2019, responding flexibly to the challenges we have encountered but always committed to our core vision: creating a new kind of urban green and blue space: one that is ecologically rich, inclusive, and shaped by the people and wildlife who use it.

East London Waterworks Park is currently entirely run by volunteers but we recognise the need to transition to a more sustainable structure. We want to introduce paid employees to ensure we can deliver the exciting projects planned in 2026 and beyond, while retaining our strong community-led ethos.

More information

If this sounds exciting, please review the attached recruitment package.

About Us

Freeways and Freeways Trust are linked local charities that supports adults with learning disabilities.

Freeways is a highly regarded provider offering a range of social care support services and Freeways Trust owns and manages a portfolio of properties which support the work of Freeways. Both charities are passionate about helping people to become as independent as possible by supporting them to make choices, learn new skills, and make links with their local community.

About the Role

The Finance Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of both Freeways and Freeways Trust and will be responsible for developing  and delivering financial strategies that align with the charities' objectives while maintaining financial sustainability. This position also involves overseeing financial management, ensuring compliance and leading the finance team to achieve operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Financial Planning: Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team to set strategic direction and develop financial strategies and budgets.  Develop the financial strategy and five-year budget plan, including capital investment plans and cashflow forecasts that align with strategic priorities and operational plans.

• Financial Management and Control: Oversee finance operations, ensure timely reporting, and lead the annual audit process.  Maintain, review, and update internal financial controls across the finance function, identifying, assessing, and mitigating financial risks. Be responsible for the review and audit of financial processes across the organisation including for the people we support.

• Organisational Performance: Manage budget-setting and performance tracking, providing insightful analysis to stakeholders. 
• Governance: Act as Company Secretary, ensuring compliance with charity law and maintaining essential records with the Charity Commission and Companies House.
• Leadership, Management and Culture: Build strong relationships with key stakeholders and lead the finance team to achieve operational excellence and foster a positive organisational culture.

About You

You will be a qualified and experienced finance professional with strong leadership skills and a commitment to improving financial processes. Your strategic thinking and exceptional communication skills will allow you to explain complex financial information to various audiences and help them understand the impact on the wider charity and the potential future options. You will also possess a solid understanding of financial management, compliance, and governance, along with the ability to lead and develop a team.

Benefits

• 35 days (pro-rata) annual leave entitlement (including public holidays)
• Company sick pay
• Company pension scheme
• Life assurance cover of twice your annual salary (subject to rules of the scheme)
• Free parking on site
• Family-friendly/work-life balance policies
• Free DBS check every 3 years
• Occupational health provision
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24-hour access to a counselling and legal helpline

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS and Adult Barred List check.

Seeking an enthusiastic, dynamic, dedicated yet compassionate leader to drive the charity forward with a fresh strategy, new ideas and a bold vision. As CEO you will provide visionary, strategic, and operational leadership to the Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Association, ensuring we fulfil our mission and grow sustainably. You will act as a key ambassador, building partnerships and maintaining our reputation for excellence ensuring we move forward with impact sharing the strength and passion that we have continued to experience for almost 70 years.

Key Responsibilities (see breakdown within attached job specification)

• Strategic leadership
• Operational Management
• External Engagement
• Governance and Board Relations
• Team Leadership
   

What we do
IA offers peer-to-peer support to those with, or about to have, either an ileostomy or an internal pouch. We also help fund research into bowel disease and other conditions leading to the removal of the colon, as well as providing relevant information to interested parties using a range of channels.

Our strapline, “Because we know, we care”, sums up our whole ethos. Individuals can join either their local IA member organisation, or the IA national charity, and in either case, gain access to a range of services and support, including our flagship quarterly Journal, local and national meetings and information events, and other services such as our One2One peer support and Support Through Therapy services.

What you offer

Essential
• Proven senior leadership experience, ideally as a CEO or Director in the charity or social enterprise sector
• Demonstrable experience of strategic planning and implementation
• Excellent communication skills with ability to engage effectively with stakeholders, professionals and volunteers both internally and publicly
• Work empathetically with vulnerable adults employing working knowledge of safeguarding
• Financial management and budget oversight
• Demonstrable experience of implementing and monitoring services based on financial benefit and social benefit
• Track record of income generation and fundraising
• Demonstrable experience of operating within a governance and regulatory framework
• Experience of developing, managing and supporting high performing teams with a strong growth mindset
• Builds effective relationships with a strong network instilling confidence and trust
• Experience of leading a team delivering effectively against objectives

Skills and Qualities
• Visionary and values-led leadership
• Ethical decision-maker
• Strong, confident and decisive performing well under pressure
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Resilience, adaptability, empathy and emotional intelligence
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

What we offer
Contract: Part time 60% FTE – flexible over 3-5 days, permanent role.
Location: Remote (with regular travel to National Office (Rochford, Essex) and other UK locations, as required)
Salary: £80,000 - £85,000 equivalent FT (pro-rata 60%), commensurate with experience plus benefits

Please see further information about us, what you will offer and who we are looking for within the attached role profile.

Birthrights is recruiting a Campaigns and Policy Manager to help drive transformative change in maternity care. This is a powerful opportunity to shape national policy and campaigns that centre human rights, racial justice and the lived experiences of women and birthing people.

Reporting to the CEO, you will lead our policy and campaigns strategy, shaping how we influence government, the NHS, regulators and professional bodies. You will identify leverage points for change, develop strong and persuasive policy positions, and deliver bold, creative campaigns that challenge harmful practice and shift power. Working closely with our legal, information & advice, training and communications teams, you will ensure our policy and campaigning work is grounded in evidence, lived experience and human rights law.

You will also contribute strategically to Communities Imagine — a core organisational initiative rooted in racial justice, community leadership and a radical re-imagining of maternity care — while working alongside and supporting dedicated roles focused on its delivery.

Birthrights is a small but mighty charity with a national profile and a strong track record of influencing maternity policy and practice. We offer flexible, remote working, a supportive team culture and generous benefits.

If you are a values-driven campaigner with a passion for racial justice, reproductive justice and human rights, we would love to hear from you.

Closing date: 12 noon on Monday 26th January – please refer to the candidate pack for full details.

Chief Officer

Citizens Advice Woking (CAW) provides free, independent, and confidential advice and information to the residents of Woking, and anyone who works in the Borough, particularly the most vulnerable, to help with the problems they face.  We are the only organisation locally that can and does address client issues holistically, across areas such as debt, housing and welfare benefits, not just single issues, and this is increasingly important as client problems become more complex.

We are looking for a Senior Manager who will bring both innovation and experience to lead a valued local charity.

Reporting to the Chair of the Trustee Board, the Chief Officer

• Is responsible to the Trustee Board for the management and leadership of Citizens Advice Woking,
• Represents Citizens Advice Woking to funders, partners and stakeholders,
• Ensures the delivery of a high quality, impartial and confidential service, utilising both paid staff and volunteers,
• Is responsible for the continuing funding, planning and financial management of the service,
• Represents the organisation in Woking and contributes to the overall provision of strategic advice services in the borough.

In particular, the priorities for the Chief Officer in 2026/27 will be to:

• Manage CAW’s external relationships with our funders and the Woking community generally, to ensure satisfaction with the delivery of current projects, and their continuation,
• Collaborate closely with the other Surrey LCA Chief Officers to respond to the changing funding landscape. In parallel, continue to identify and deliver local projects for local funders,
• Ensure that suitable alternative premises are secured, and the transition is managed as smoothly as possible,
• Ensure the staff and volunteers are enabled to work effectively, particularly during this period of disruption,

The Chief Officer has an important leadership role, working closely with the Operations Manager, who has line responsibility for the staff and, generally, the internal CAW operation.  The volunteers are managed on a day-to-day basis by the Advice Session Supervisors, who are critical to ensuring the quality of advice to clients, and the smooth running of the office. 

How to apply

To apply for the role of Chief Officer at CAW, please see the Job Pack on our website.

You will need to send us your CV and a maximum 2 page supporting statement. The supporting statement should demonstrate how you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification and outline why you are interested in becoming the CO of Citizens Advice Woking.

Closing date for applications: Friday 6th Febraury

Applications will be reviewed on receipt, and we reserve the right to close earlier if applications from sufficient suitably qualified candidates have been received

PCS is a union with an organising culture. Our approach is about building union power. Industrial officers will be given opportunities to work in, and develop expertise in, all aspects of the role including bargaining, organising, campaigning, equality, education and learning.

PCS has a number of permanent vacancies at various PCS locations: offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Clapham (London), Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle. Successful candidates will work collaboratively across the union, to deliver effectively for our members and contribute to the unions continued success.

Salary and Location

• London/Regional
• Band 4, London Spine points 27- 23
• London Starting salary: £51,759 p.a. rising to £58,877 p.a. in annual increments
• Regional Spine points 30-26
• Regional Starting salary: £47,844 p.a. rising to £54,027 p.a. in annual increments

Successful candidates for the Industrial Officer role will be able to demonstrate:

• Methods and techniques for bargaining, campaigning and organising
• Basic knowledge of employment rights, equality legislation discrimination law and working practices
• Understanding of the political processes in the UK and the role and work of trade unions
• Project Management (e.g. Campaigning)
• Impact and use of Digital and IT applications in a trade union
• Evidence of ongoing training and continuing professional development

The main duties of the Industrial Officer role include:

• Encouraging participation and recruitment of new members, particularly of under-represented groups
• Co-ordinating and working with committees
• Industrial relations and negotiations
• Advocacy and representation

The ability to organise own work, identify and set priorities as well as communicate effectively using written and oral channels, including reports and presentations, with a variety of audiences are all essential.

Candidates will be informed after the interview whether they are appointable. The General Secretary will have ultimate responsibility of allocating roles to the successful candidates, with decisions being notified on filling any vacancies in due course.

Closing date: at 12 midday on Monday 26 January 2026.

Interviews will be held in person at PCS Clapham: Monday 9 February 2026 and Tuesday 10 February 2026.

About PCS

PCS is the Public and Commercial Services Union, representing many thousands of members working in the civil service and related areas.

Employer Benefits

You will have access to a generous package of staff benefits including

• flexible working (including hybrid working)
• childcare and family support
• generous maternity/paternity leave
• 32 days leave and Christmas closure
• pension scheme
• employee assistance programme

Learning and Development

The union offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities. We will work with you to support your continued professional development.

PCS Recruiting Process

We use CVMinder to manage all recruitment activities. It helps us to maintain our commitment to equality and diversity by ensuring that we are fair and compliant with our recruiting practices.

Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified.

Candidates invited for interview are required to make themselves available on the date/s specified. Interview dates cannot be changed to accommodate candidates who are unavailable to attend on the specified date.

• CVs will not be accepted. Please see the job description/person specification and follow the application process.
• PCS is working towards equal opportunities and is positive about disabled people.
• All posts can be considered on a full-time, part-time or job share basis.

Please view our guidance for applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION: INDUSTRIAL OFFICER

Ref: 0126

Grade: Band 4, London or Region

Salary:

London Spine points 27-23

London starting salary £51,759 p.a. rising to £58,877 p.a.

Regional Spine points 30-26

Regional starting salary £47,844 p.a. rising to £54,027 p.a.

Location: London/Region

Purpose of the job:

To identify and maximise the potential for union growth, influence success by developing and promoting the unions bargaining, campaigning, equality and organising agenda, encouraging membership participation and support in allocated areas of responsibility, in line with PCS policy.

Responsible to: National Officer

Responsible for: Not applicable

Contacts

External:

Media, PCS members, senior and elected officials, employers, potential members. Members of other trade unions and related bodies. Ministers, Members of UK government, Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Assembly, and other governmental staff. Legal representatives, pressure groups, campaigning and community bodies.

Internal:

PCS Staff, Departments, Regions and Nations and Senior Managers.

Main duties and responsibilities

This is a generic job description that covers all the different roles of an industrial officer.

1. Bargaining

• Develop a bargaining agenda with activists and members, ensuring all bargaining activities are informed by the PCS equality agenda, policies and practices
• Take responsibility for negotiations with the management of civil service departments, agencies, public and private sector employers including pay and conditions of service of PCS members
• Represent PCS at joint meetings with management and other trade unions
• Prepare and present reports, and undertake effective monitoring and implementation of decisions, including consultative and legal ballots e.g. on pay and industrial action
• Participate in appropriate branch, group and national events to share information and knowledge

2. Campaigning

• Develop and maintain knowledge of campaigning, monitoring trends, establishing and maintaining contacts and attending appropriate internal and external meetings and events
• Progress national campaigning objectives as agreed by Annual Delegate Conference, Region/Nation and Group conferences and the National Executive Committee, providing strategic and technical advice to inform campaigning decisions
• Identify and work with full time officers, reps, other trade unions and campaigning organisations to develop and promote PCS campaigning objectives to key audiences
• Co-ordinate and draft, in liaison with the PCS design team where relevant, campaigning materials, briefing, etc. for a range of audiences in support of PCS campaigning objectives
• Deal with the media in relation to specific campaigns

3. Equality

• Identify and prioritise issues and trends in equality practice and develop responses in line with PCS policies
• Keep up to date with developments in equality practice and equality legislation in Britain and Europe
• Provide advice on equality practice and the Equality Act 2010 and on the handling of personal cases
• Produce guidance to support negotiations
• Contribute to PCS Academy courses on equality issues
• Support the PCS equality forums and networks either nationally or in region/nation
• Organise meetings, seminars and events to promote understanding of equality issues

4. Organising

• In line with the PCS National Organising Strategy, develop and support lay structures and build membership density in areas of responsibility
• Encourage activist and member participation in union activities
• Develop links between Groups/National Branches/Sections at local, regional and national level and with appropriate external organisations
• Identify and win collective bargaining rights in new areas
• Supporting strategies to recruit new members, build PCS locals and facilitate cooperation across branches
• Assist in building and embedding an organising culture across the union

5. Developing effective communications and enhancing membership participation

• Ensure digitalisation, information and communications methods are effectively implemented and used to generate improvements
• Ensure effective communication networks with members are in place in areas of responsibility
• Promote and undertake face-to-face communication, where appropriate, in the workplace
• Understand and make effective use of PCS specialist resources, communication channels and technology
• Enhance activist and member understanding in order to encourage wide participation in decision-making processes e.g. PCS ballots, elections and members meetings, and in other union activities and campaigns
• Establish and maintain contacts across the union, and with employers and external bodies e.g. including MPs, media, other unions, and various campaigning and pressure groups
• Draft and publish circulars and briefings, address meetings and conferences
• Develop and maintain the relevant pages on the PCS website
• Sub-edit, re-write, copy, and proof read printed and electronic communications

6. Ensuring implementation of equality policies/improving representation

• Contribute to PCS policies on equality by developing innovative strategies to tackle inequality and discrimination, on the grounds of protected characteristics
• Build a membership and activist base that reflects the diversity of the area of responsibility by developing innovative strategies to tackle inequality and discrimination
• Engage with employers on the equality bargaining agenda
• Equality-proof employer policy and practices
• Equality-check PCS structures, policies and practices
• Develop strategies to increase membership density and participation at all levels and areas of union activity amongst under-represented groups to reflect the make-up of the workforce and to remove all barriers to equality
• Promote awareness of the importance of diversity and equality measures among members and activists and with the employer
• Participate and encourage participation in equality forums and events

7. Supporting and developing lay structures and representatives

• Develop and implement strategies to identify and support new leaders and representatives
• Build effective teams which share responsibility for tasks and decisions
• Ensure that lay structures are effective and comply with PCS Rules
• Build an activist base which reflects the diversity of the membership
• Secure appropriate facilities from employers in line with best practice
• Ensure areas of responsibility are kept up-to-date with relevant policies e.g. government, academic, etc.
• Provide guidance and explain the unions structures and policies e.g. on roles and responsibilities
• Ensure structures within areas of responsibility are provided with all the necessary administrative support

8. Promoting learning and development

• Encourage, educate and support members into activism and into elected roles within the union
• Identify and address activists training needs
• Promote learning in the workplace through negotiated agreements with employers and relevant bodies
• Develop and deliver courses and learning materials

9. Team working

• Proactively promote team and collaborative working across PCS departments
• Initiate, organise, lead and participate in team meetings as appropriate
• Maintain high levels of confidentiality of sensitive issues at all times
• Provide assistance to team members

10. General

• Participate and input information into PCS planning and budgeting processes
• At all times implement and promote the PCSs Equal Opportunities Policy adhering to the PCS Values
• Take due and reasonable care of self and others in respect of Health & Safety at Work
• Participate in appraisal, training and development systems
• In all work activities, comply with data protection legislation and PCSs requirements for the protection of personal information and the privacy of individuals
• Act in a manner that enhances the work of the PCS and its overall public image
• Staff at this grade may be assigned or transferred to posts within grade. A training & development programme will be provided to assist with this, where required
• Such other duties that may reasonably be requested by the Line Manager and that are within the level of the responsibility of this post
• Willing to work outside normal office hours and location

Person Specification: INDUSTRIAL OFFICER

Ref: 0126

Date: January 2026

Location: London/Region

ESSENTIAL FACTORS

EXPERIENCE

• Encouraging participation and recruitment of new members, particularly of under-represented groups
• Co-ordinating and working with committees
• Industrial relations and negotiations
• Advocacy and representation
• Project Management (e.g. Campaigning)

TRAINING

(including continuous professional development)

• Evidence of ongoing training and continuing professional development
• Commitment to participation in appraisal and development review process
• Commitment to undertake job-related training

KNOWLEDGE

• Understanding of the political processes in the UK and the role and work of trade unions
• Basic knowledge of employment rights, equality legislation discrimination law and working practices
• Methods and techniques for bargaining, campaigning and organising
• Impact and use of Digital and IT applications in a trade union

SKILLS

• Ability to organise own work
• Ability to communicate effectively using written and oral channels, including reports and presentations, with a variety of audiences
• Ability to identify and set priorities
• Ability to build and co-ordinate teams and networks
• Ability to identify, research, analyse and present evidence, including statistics

OTHER

• Commitment to the application of Equal Opportunities policies and practices at work
• Understanding of own role in maintaining legal compliances within PCS (e.g. data protection; health and safety)
• Flexible approach to work and willing to work outside of normal office hours and location on occasions